Encyclopaedia of Great Men of India : A Continuing Series, Vols. 1 to 10/edited
by Shiv Gajrani and S. Ram. New Delhi, Commonwealth, 2008, 4190 p., ISBN 81-311-0017-0.
Encyclopaedia of Great Men of India : A Continuing Series, Vols. 1 to 10/edited
by Shiv Gajrani and S. Ram. New Delhi, Commonwealth, 2008, 4190 p., ISBN 81-311-0017-0.
Contents: Vol. I. Lord Mahavira: Preface. 1. Early career. 2. Jainism before Lord Mahavira. 3. Teachings of Mahavira. 4. The great scriptures of Jains. 5. Fundamental principles. 6. The way of inner development. 7. Vows for a householder. 8. Five types of knowledge. 9. Philosophical and religious principles of Jainism. 10. The structure of Jain community. 11. Literature and art of the Jains. 12. Penance and Nirvana. 13. Mass popularity. 14. Approximate date of his Nirvana. 15. Modern period of development of Jainism. 16. Conclusion. Index.
Vol. II. Gautam Buddha: Preface. 1. The career. 2. Four truths and the middle path. 3. The moral precepts. 4. Social foundations of early Buddhism. 5. Buddhism and Buddha. 6. Mahayana in the making. 7. Discipline and enlightenment. 8. Buddha and His disciples. 9. The Buddhist education. 10. Buddhist Nihilism. 11. Asoka and Buddhism. 12. Buddha and Dayananda. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. III. Swami Dayanand: Preface. 1. The Career. 2. Religious philosophy and teachings. 3. New awakening in Hindu society. 4. Socio-economic reforms. 5. Society and the state. 6. Tours and mass contact. 7. Worship and rituals. 8. Arya Samaj and Nationalism. 9. The D.A.V. Movement. 10. Impact on religion, education and culture. 11. Shuddhi and society. 12. Status of women. 13. Equality and justice for all. 14. The legacy. 15. A unique reformer. Index.
Vol. IV. Guru Nanak Dev: Preface. 1. The career. 2. Teachings of Guru Nanak. 3. The Sikh gurus. 4. Holy scriptures. 5. The Sohila. 6. Hymns of Guru Nanak. 7. The nature of God. 8. Guru's Sabad. 9. Prophet of Unity. 10. The Japuji : The theme. 11. The battle of life. 12. Problem of life. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. V. Vinoba Bhave: Preface. 1. Bapu's gift. 2. Establishing Gram Swaraj--the survey. 3. Fragments of Swaraj--Shastra, or principles of independence. 4. Bhoodan Movement and Vinoba. 5. From Gramdan to Gram Swaraj. 6. From Bhoodan to Gramdan. 7. Bhoodan and agrarian economy. 8. Progress and extent of Bhoodan. 9. The Spinning Wheel's answer. 10. Nature of donation. 11. Views on democracy. 12. On Swaraj. 13. The legacy. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. VI. Raja Rammohun Roy: Preface. 1. The career. 2. Social ideology. 3. Religious beliefs. 4. Political and economic thought. 5. Sati practice and his opposition. 6. Views on revenue system. 7. Champion of free press. 8. Rammohun Roy and Bengali prose. 9. Select committees and the Reform Bill. 10. Implications of the Charter of 1833. 11. As a man. 12. Tributes: place in history. Chronology. Index.
Vol. VII. Swami Vivekananda: Preface. 1. Early career. 2. In America and England. 3. The first visit to England. 4. Spread of Vedanta. 5. On religions. 6. Organisation and method of work. 7. Education and social regeneration. 8. The Ramakrishna Math and Mission. 9. Swamiji's ideology. 10. Views of eminent persons. 11. A towering intellectual. 12. The last days. Index.
Vol. VIII. Rabindra Nath Tagore: Preface. 1. Tagore--poet and seer. 2. An educationist. 3. Quest for beauty. 4. Gitanjali. 5. Political ideology. 6. Economic thought. 7. Social thought. 8. Essays on history, politics and sociology. 9. Tagore chronology. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. IX. Mahatma Gandhi: Preface. 1. Historical background. 2. Evolution of his thought. 3. Welfare of Harijans. 4. Harijan Sevak Sangh. 5. The communal unity. 6. Non-violence in Satyagraha. 7. Charkha in masses. 8. Foreign cloth and boycott. 9. The Swadeshi. 10. Khadi: Its patronage. 11. Social customs. 12. Temple entry. 13. Conversions. 14. Status of women. 15. Independence and partition. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. X. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Preface. 1. The career. 2. A political thinker. 3. Mahad Satyagraha. 4. His social ideology. 5. Struggle for land reforms. 6. Untouchability. 7. Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal and his views. 8. Views on constitution and his participation. 9. Social system and solution. 10. Conclusion. Index.
"The Encyclopaedia of Great Men of India who effected and changed the socio-economic and religious life of the people not in towns, but also in the far-flung areas of rural India. Their way of life and practices brought about a change in the hearts and minds of millions of their followers. If we take up the life of any great man, we are so much impressed by their deep knowledge and philosophy of life.
Undoubtedly their philosophy of life was so deep and impressive that the spontaneous charishma of these great men brought about a generation having belief in pious life and helpful temperament. It was responsible for the creation of a bold and fearless society tinged with significant social temperament. Thus these great men left behind them a rich legacy which would be a proper guide line for their millions of followers.
The Encyclopaedia of Great Men of India contains the works, speeches and writings of Lord Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Swami Dayananda, Guru Nanak Dev, Sant Vinoba Bhave, Raja Rammohun Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. They were great men and social reformers par excellence. Indeed they played a most dominant role in the annals of the Indian sub-continent. They propagated several developmental schemes having deep bearing on the numerous aspects of socio-economic and religious life of a common man. They had their social innings in the past few centuries and we find that their achievements were marvellous in every respect." (jacket)